Oyster opening machine

ABSTRACT

An oyster opening machine which includes a table or platform for carrying out the oyster opening steps. An anvil is slidably positioned on the table and a pneumatically movable piston is operably positioned oppositely of the anvil. The piston carries an oyster opening bit which is moved toward the oyster by depressing an activating lever. The anvil has a toothed rack associated therewith, and braking means are provided to engage the toothed rack and thereby lock the position of the anvil on the table prior to energizing the pneumatically operated piston. Once the anvil is correctly positioned with respect to the piston, the oyster is inserted between the piston and the anvil, and the activating lever is depressed. Upon initial movement of the activating lever, the anvil brake is engaged, and on further movement of the activating lever the pneumatically operated piston is urged toward the oyster to perform the opening function.

United States Patent Lanier [is] 3,654,666 1 Apr. 11, 1972 154] OYSTER OPENING MACHINE Leo H. Lanier, 710 South Bay Street, Amite, La. 70422 [22] Filed: Sept. 9, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 856,453

[72] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl ..17/76 Primary ExaminerLucie H. Laudenslager Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT An oyster opening machine which includes a table or platform for carrying out the oyster opening steps. An anvil is slidably positioned on the table and a pneumatically movable piston is operably positioned oppositely of the anvil. The piston carries an oyster opening bit which is moved toward the oyster by depressing an activating lever. The anvil has a toothed rack associated therewith, and braking means are provided to engage the toothed rack and thereby lock the position of the anvil on the table prior to energizing the pneumatically operated piston. Once the anvil is correctly positioned with respect to the piston, the oyster is inserted between the piston and the anvil, and the activating lever is depressed. Upon initial movement of the activating lever, the anvil brake is engaged, and on further movement of the activating lever the pneumatically operated piston is urged toward the oyster to perform the opening function.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 11 m2 Y 3,654,666

SHEET 1 [1F 2 OYSTER OPENING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The field of art to which this invention pertains is oyster opening machines and in particular to machines for quickly and efficiently separating the two halves of the oyster shell to remove the edible portions therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an important feature of the present invention to provide an improved oyster opening machine.

It is another feature of the present invention to provide a pneumatically operated oyster opening machine.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a pneumatically operated piston for controllably opening an oyster shell.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an oyster opening machine with a movable anvil and a movable piston which is used to open an oyster between the anvil and the piston.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a braking means for a movable anvil in a pneumatically operated oyster opening device.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an oyster opening machine having a platform and having a slidably mounted anvil mounted on the platform and to have a pneumatic actuator mounted oppositely of the anvil for opening an oyster between the anvil and the pneumatic device wherein means are provided to sequentially lock the position of the anvil and energize the pneumatic device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an incising bit for a pneumatic oyster opening machine as described above.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a concave, non-incising squeeze bit for a pneumatic oyster opening machine.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a certain preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an oyster opening machine according to the present invention with the anvil spaced substantially from the oyster opening bit.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 with the anvil moved toward the bit so as to place an oyster in the proper position for being opened upon energization of the pneumatic actuator.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of portions of the oyster opening machine according to the present invention and illustrating in particular the activating lever and the activating pawl and the associated linkage for actuating the anvil braking device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an incising bit of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a non-incising squeeze bit for use in the oyster opening machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 6 shows a further form of an incising bit which may be used in the pneumatic oyster opening machine of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The oyster opening machine of the present invention includes a platform which has a movable anvil generally positioned at one end thereof and a pneumatic actuator positioned at the other end. The pneumatic actuator has a relatively extensible piston which is moved in the direction of the anvil upon energization of the pneumatic motor. The movement of the piston is a controlled movement and thereby exerts just a required amount of pressure on the oyster to open the shells.

The oyster opening machine is arranged generally horizontally, and the anvil and piston are arranged to move toward each other generally longitudinally of the table or platform.

The anvil is provided with a braking means which includes a toothed rack which is slidable with the anvil and which is cooperable with a pivoted brake shoe to lock the anvil in position relative to the table. Once this locking action is accomplished, the pneumatic piston may be energized and moved toward the anvil for opening an oyster which is positioned against a concave surface formed in the anvil. The brake shoe engages the toothed rack immediately prior to the energization of the pneumatic piston by depressing a single activating lever.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, an oyster opening machine according to the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. A pneumatic cylinder or pneumatic motor of a type well known in the art may be mounted within a housing 11. The housing 11 and the pneumatic motor assembly is fixedly secured to a mounting platform 12. The platform 12 includes a table 13 on which the oyster opening process is carried out.

An anvil 14 is slidably mounted within a slot 15 formed within the table 13. The anvil 14 consists of an upright portion 16 and a neck portion 17 which has a concave surface 18 formed therein.

The upright portion 16 of the anvil 14 is formed integrally with a rack 19 extending horizontally below the table 13. The rack 19 has an end portion 20 which has toothed surface 21 formed at the lower edge thereof. The table 13 has guide means 22 for supporting the rack 19 to move the same longitudinally of the table as desired.

The pneumatic .actuator has a relatively extensible power piston 23 which projects from the housing 11 in a direction toward the neck portion 17 of the anvil 14. The piston 23 may be moved toward the anvil and away therefrom by actuation of the pneumatic actuator which is contained within the housing 11.

An oyster bit 24 is slidably received on the piston 23 and may be moved into engagement with an oyster 24 which is held by hand against the concave surface 18 of the anvil 14. The pressure exerted by the bit on the end 26 of the oyster may cut or split the oyster or simply spread the oyster shell depending upon the nature of the bit 24 which is used.

The pneumatic actuator is operated by depressing a lever 27. The lever 27 which may be referred to as an activating lever is shown more clearly in FIG. 3.

The activating lever 27 is coupled to a pawl 28 which is pivotally mounted to an upright bracket 29. The bracket 29 is fixedly secured to the table 13 of the platform 12.

The pawl 28 may have a portion 30, for instance, which may be used to actuate the pneumatic motor when the lever is depressed. However, since the anvil 14 is slidably mounted on the table 13, means must be provided to lock the position of the anvil relative to the table prior to the energization of the pneumatic motor.

Accordingly, the anvil 28 has a member 31 which receives a connecting rod 32 therein. The connecting rod 32 may be moved upwardly or downwardly by depressing the activating lever 27 and pivoting the member 31 about the pivot point of the pawl 28.

The connecting rod 32 is coupled to a lever arm 33. The lever arm 33 is in turn secured to a braking shoe 34 as shown. The braking shoe 34 is pivotally mounted at 35 to the platform 12. A boss 36 on the braking shoe 34 is provided with a slot 37 to receive the lever arm 33 therein. Accordingly, when the activating lever is depressed, the connecting rod 32 is lifted, thereby lifting the lever arm 33 and pivoting the braking shoe about the pivot point 35. This pivotal action of the braking shoe causes a single tooth 38 to be received within one of the notches 39 of the toothed rack 19. When this occurs, the rack 19 and hence the anvil 14 is fixedly positioned with respect to the table 13. Accordingly, the pneumatic actuator may be energized by further depressing the activating lever 27. Upon energizing the pneumatic motor, the oyster is then squeezed between the anvil and the oyster bit 24 which is positioned on the power piston 23.

When the lever 27 is released, the pneumatic motor is first de-energized, and subsequently, the connecting rod 32 is dropped to a point where the brake shoe 34 is out of engagement with the toothed rack 19. In this regard, the braking shoe 34 is provided with a return spring 40 which is positioned between the lever arm 33 and the lower surface 41 of the table 13.

The pneumatic piston 23 may have a number of different bits in order to perform the oyster opening task. The bit 24 shown in FIG. 1 and illustrated further in FIG. 4 is an incising bit which is used to cut or break the shell so that a knife or other tool may be inserted to sever the muscles which hold the oyster shell together.

The oyster bit shown in FIG. 5 is a non-incising squeeze bit and is used to open the oyster shell without breakage or cracking of the shell. In using the squeeze bit, the air pressure is applied continuously to the power piston until the shells of the oyster spread to allow the insertion of a knife blade to cut the muscle which is joined to the shells.

The oyster bit shown in FIG. 6 is referred to as a hinge braking bit and is shaped to allow a cutting action at the hinge point of the oyster.

The use of the oyster opening machine of the present invention is as follows: An oyster is placed in the palm of the hand and positioned within the concave surface 18 of the anvil 14. The anvil 14 is then freely moved forward toward the oyster bit 24 until the bit contacts the opposite end of the oyster as at 26. This position is shown in FIG. 2.

The activating lever 27 is then depressed, and the associated movement of the connecting rod 32 pivots the braking shoe 34 so that the tooth 38 is interlocked with one of the teeth of the rack gear 19. This braces the anvil 14 so that it can absorb pressure applied by the pneumatic actuator.

Further depressing the activating lever 27 allows air pressure to enter the pneumatic actuator through a line 42 and move the power piston 23 toward the anvil 14. This, then performs the desired cutting or squeezing action of the oyster depending on the type of bit employed. The lever 27 may then be released. The releasing of the lever 27 disengages the pneumatic actuator to release the pressure applied on the bit 24 and subsequently releases the braking shoe 34 from engagement with the rack 19 thereby allowing the anvil 14 to be freely moved away from the bit 24.

The power delivered to the pneumatic actuator may be controlled by a standard three-way valve. The three-way valve would couple the pneumatic actuator to a source of pressurized air and close off a vent when the lever is depressed. When the lever is released, the valve moves to a position to disconnect the source of pressurized air from the pneumatic actuator and vent the actuator to atmosphere.

In this way, this machine performs the task of gaping a bivalve mollusk in a quick, quiet, manner thereby removing the diflicult manual labor heretofore required to gain such desired results.

I claim as my invention:

1. An oyster opening machine comprising:

a machine platform having an anvil slidably mounted thereon,

braking means for locking the position of said anvil with respect to said platform,

a pneumatic actuator fixedly positioned with respect to said platform and having a relatively extensible power piston which is movable generally toward said anvil,

activating means for operating both said braking means and said pneumatic actuator,

said actuating means having a first position for operating said braking means and a second position for operating said pneumatic actuator while holding said braking means in engagement, and means or disengaging said pneumatic actuator pIlOl' to disengaging said braking means upon release of said activating means,

said anvil having a toothed rack fixedly secured thereto and being slidable therewith and a braking shoe pivotally mounted relative to said toothed rack,

said braking shoe being pivotable by said activating means to engage said toothed rack for locking the position of said anvil with respect to said platform.

2. An oyster opening machine comprising:

a machine platform having an anvil mounted thereon, an actuator device having a piston adapted to be moved toward and away from said anvil,

means for energizing said actuator device to forcibly move said piston toward said anvil by a measured stroke,

means positioning said actuator device with respect to said anvil so that said measured stroke of said piston exerts an opening force on an oyster placed against said anvil, and

braking means being provided to lock the position of the anvil relative to said platform prior to energization of said actuator device,

said anvil having a toothed rack fixedly secured thereto and being slidable therewith and a braking shoe pivotally mounted relative to said toothed rack,

said braking shoe being pivotable by said activating means to engage said toothed rack for locking the position of said anvil with respect to said platform. 

1. An oyster opening machine comprising: a machine platform having an anvil slidably mounted thereon, braking means for locking the position of said anvil with respect to said platform, a pneumatic actuator fixedly positioned with respect to said platform and having a relatively extensible power piston which is movable generally toward said anvil, activating means for operating both said braking means and said pneumatic actuator, said actuating means having a first position for operating said braking means and a second position for operating said pneumatic actuator while holding said braking means in engagement, and means for disengaging said pneumatic actuator prior to disengaging said braking means upon release of said activating means, said anvil having a toothed rack fixedly secured thereto and being slidable therewith and a braking shoe pivotally mounted relative to said toothed rack, said braking shoe being pivotable by said activating means to engage said toothed rack for locking the position of said anvil with respect to said platform.
 2. An oyster opening machine comprising: a machine platform having an anvil mounted thereon, an actuator device having a piston adapted to be moved toward and away from said anvil, means for energizing said actuator device to forcibly move said piston toward said anvil by a measured stroke, means positioning said actuator device with respect to said anvil so that said measured stroke of said piston exerts an opening force on an oyster placed against said anvil, and braking means being provided to lock the position of the anvil relative to said platform prior to energization of said actuator device, said anvil having a toothed rack fixedly secured thereto and being slidable therewith and a braking shoe pivotally mounted relative to said toothed rack, said braking shoe being pivotable by said activating means to engage said toothed rack for locking the position of said anvil with respect to said platform. 